Homeless & Ex-Offenders Lobby For Second Chance

Hundreds gathered on Lawyer's Mall in Annapolis, for the rally of ex-offenders, homeless people and their advocates. (WBAL's Robert Lang)

Andrew Gould and Gregory Issac were two ex-offenders attending today's rally. Andrew describes the sign he was carrying at the rally. Download This File

Clementine Alford works for Helath Care for the Homeless in Baltimore. She explains why she came to Annapolis today. Download This File

Several hundred ex-offenders and homeless people and their advocates held a march and rally in Annapolis today.

They are calling on lawmakers to pass the Maryland Second Chance Act of 2014. The bill would remove certain nonviolent misdemeanor criminal convictions from public view.

Ex-offenders say they can't get jobs because potential employers do online criminal background checks that lists the applicant's criminal record.

Among the offenses that would be removed from public view on online records, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, trespassing, driving without a license and possession of small amounts of illegal drugs.

Members of the Maryland Job Opportunities Task Force say one in four adults in Maryland have a criminal record, and those convicted of offenses listed under this bill cannot get jobs.

The Senate version of this bill is sponsored by Democrat Jamie Raskin of Montgomery County. No hearing has been scheduled on the bill in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

The House version of the bill is sponsored by Delegate Curt Anderson of Baltimore City. The bill faces a hearing on March 11, in the House Judiciary Committee.

The group was also urging lawmakers to approve mandatory earned sick leave legislation and an increase in the minimum wage. They were lobbying against a bill to require people present an ID in order to vote.